Buyers tend to focus on the house and only the house. Does it have enough bedrooms? An updated kitchen? Plenty of storage space? And while these things are important to consider, evaluating the entire neighborhood during a home search is equally as important. Here are four ways to find your perfect neighborhood.
1. Prioritize the vibe.
Are you looking for a quiet, suburban cul-de-sac full of minivans? Or an active, walkable, urban neighborhood? Searching for your ideal vibe can improve your chances of neighborhood satisfaction. Don’t know where to start? The internet is a great place to begin! Search around the web to see if the neighborhoods you’re looking at are nightlife heavy or family-friendly.
2. Check it out yourself.
If you don’t personally check out your potential new neighborhood, there’s a large chance you won’t be happy with the location. However, there’s not always time to visit a dozen neighborhoods while you’re searching for a new home. Fortunately, Trulia offers neighborhood photo galleries that help you shop from states away. Going on a virtual tour is the next best thing to visiting a neighborhood in-person.
3. Ask around.
Don’t hesitate to start a conversation about the area with a pedestrian, barista, or neighbor. You’ll likely receive a lot of information about the pros and cons of the neighborhood, and these tidbits of information can play a huge part in your final decision about buying a home. If you’re long distance house hunting, you can take advantage of the What Locals Say section on Trulia.
4. Screen for schools and safety.
School quality and safety should never be negotiable, especially if you have a family. Fortunately for you, Trulia Neighborhoods includes information about crime, schools, safety, safety ratings, and school reviews by parents. You can make a dozen renovations to your home, but there isn’t much you can do about safety if you live in a dangerous area.